An 84-year-old grandmother was held hostage by thieves posing as plumbers who tied her to a chair in her kitchen for 45 minutes before stealing £800 and gold jewellery.

Police have launched an investigation after two men knocked on the door of a flat on Alexandra Avenue, in Harrow, at 5.30pm on Thursday, July 13.

They claimed they were from the council and had come to fix a leak.

They entered the flat and one of the men pretended to work on the sink, while the other took money from her bedroom while she was distracted.

The men then told the woman to sit in the chair and to remove her bangles, rosemary beads and a 24-carat ring.

The suspects are described as white and aged in their 30s.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Harrow via 101.